Movie Review: Jesus Revolution, directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle (four stars)

Movie Review: Jesus Revolution, directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle (four stars)

“It’s not something to explain. It’s something to be experienced.”

A sympathetic look at the central personalities and events of the Jesus movement coming to southern California in the earl 1970s. While the movie displays some of the “warts” and conflicts among the central characters, it sanitizes the negative. Even the hippie drug scene is disinfected. Long.

“There is an entire generation right now searching for God. If you look a little deeper, if you look with love, you’ll see a bunch of kids that are searching for all the right things, just in all the wrong places.”

Out of character roles for Jonathan Roumie and Kelsey Grammar who got to show more depth than the roles for which they are famous. Doubtful many non-Christians will venture this way, but isn’t totally a whitewash nor a church service.

“What I’m saying is that they want peace and love. Isn’t that what you want?”

I was twenty-five in 1971 but remember little of either the hippies or the Jesus movement. Busy living.

‘Let’s just see what God has in mind.’

Movie Review: A Man Called Otto, directed Marc Forster (four stars)

Movie Review: A Man Called Otto, directed Marc Forster (four stars)

Poignant, funny tale about a curmudgeon’s reawakening. Many parallels to Pixar’s Up movie. Need to read the book A Man Called Ove again.

Tom Hanks once again displays his unique ability to submerge himself in his role. But he didn’t have to carry the show alone; Mariana Trevino especially added depth and humor.

The young Otto, played by Hank’s son Truman, was played as having a mild personality disorder while the old Otto was just a grump.

Yes, it’s about the end of life, but it’s also about being a blessing to those around you. Every day is a gift.

Movie Review: LifeMark, directed by Kevin Peeples (four stars)

Movie Review: LifeMark, directed by Kevin Peeples (four stars)

“Hope is at the heart of every journey”

An intensely personal coming-of-age story. Latest Kendrick Brothers Production Christian movie continues trend to increasing technical quality and textual realism. While some reviews (both pro and con) list this movie as anti-abortion, that word (and concept) is not mentioned for the first 90% of the story. It’s more pro-life, pro-adoption.

“Your baby has 10 fingers and 10 toes—please don’t kill it.”

This is a true story, which is a strength as well as a weakness. An intense movie psychologically, there’s not much overt conflict and danger. Lots of dialogue. The folded timeline may be difficult to follow. Flashbacks within flashbacks.

“I don’t think he’d want to talk to me. He probably hates me for what I did.”

Despite the limited distribution—one showing per night at 1,400 Regal theaters—the movie managed to open at nearly a million dollars in revenue. (The showing we attended was more than 50% full, which judging by the parking lot was that multiplex’s best attended show. The average age of the audience was over fifty.)

“God knew this was going to happen.”

Movie Review: Show Me the Father, directed by Rick Altizer (four stars)

theatrical release poster

Movie Review: Show Me the Father, directed by Rick Altizer (four stars)

A Christian documentary by the Kendrick Brothers. While well made and sincere, its presence in mass-market theaters is a mystery.

Lots of good statistics and aphorisms about the impact of fathers and the love of God. Many Christians will buy and shelf along with the Kendrick Brothers’ dramas.

Movie Review: Onward, directed by Dan Scanlon (Four Stars)

Movie Review: Onward, directed by Dan Scanlon

(Four Stars)

“I am a mighty warrior.”

Here’s the trick: instead of the hero’s quest, how ‘bout a fantasy which plays by the rules of a fantasy role-playing game?

“You can’t spend your whole life playing board games.”

Great concept—semi-autobiographical, at that—great vocal talent; great art. The computer-generated scenes are incredible. Compare it with Toy Story 1.

“On a quest, you use what you’ve got, and we’ve got this”

What could go wrong? Cartoonish. Feels like a made-for-direct-release video. (Think Aladdin 2: The Return of Jafar.)

“Whoever said you have to take risks in life to have an adventure?” “Apparently, you did.”

Movie Review: Jumanji: The Next Level, directed by Jake Kasdan (Two Stars)

Movie Review: Jumanji: The Next Level, directed by Jake Kasdan

(Two Stars)

Disappointing. Had the same wacked-out plot structure as Jumanji: Into the Jungle and much the same cast. Danny DeVito was a welcome addition. Lots of inside jokes and some healthy relationship vibes.

But the tone of the movie is, presumably intentional, grittier. For one thing the offensive language is much more and more noticeable.

Movie Review: Little Women, written and directed by Greta Gerwig (Three Stars)

Movie Review: Little Women, written and directed by Greta Gerwig

(Three Stars)

“If the main character is a girl, make sure she is married by the end. Or dead. Either way.” 

Imaginative retelling of Louisa May Alcott classic nineteenth-century coming of age novel. However, the folded timeline assumes—no, depends on the viewer already knowing the story. Otherwise it’s not nearly as marvelous.

“I may not always be right. But I am never wrong.”

Nice Sets and costumes. Good music and photography. Excellent performance by Saoirse Ronan. Other than for poster presence, they wasted their money

Movie Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams (Five Stars)

Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams

(Four Stars)

“Some things are stronger than blood.”

Redemption. This story, indeed the entire Star Wars trilogy of trilogies, is about redemption. What you were does not determine who you are. (Your last movie need not condemn your next.) Certain critics may demur with good cause, but for the casual viewer it’s good enough.

“You were a spice runner? “You were a stormtrooper.”

This may not be the movie George Lucas would have made, but he whiffed a few himself. It is an appropriate and satisfying conclusion to the series he started over four decades ago. Is it really five stars? No, but I rounded up. I saw the original Star Wars movie within a week of its initial release. I’m relieved as well as satisfied.

“Who’s ever ready?”

Technically overpowering. Too loud, too many special effects, too fast. Who cares? Cameos? Lots. Some surprises. The nerds will go crazy. Hopefully that’s good.

“They won by making you think you are alone.”

Hard to say too much without spoiling. Even the apparent spoilers of the previews, out of context, don’t necessarily reveal what they seem. One spoiler: long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, the end is not necessarily the end.

“The Force will be with you.” “Always.”

Movie Review: Frozen II, directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee (Three Stars)

Movie Review: Frozen II, directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

(Three Stars)

“Don’t you know there’s part of me that wants to go into the unknown?”

Disney stroked the money goose and out popped this pleasant, but derivative golden egg. Competent, but not nearly as wonderful as the opening opus. Obviously aimed at the little girls who loved the first Frozen, there’s little here to appeal to their younger siblings, not to mention their parents. (At least there is no danger of anyone singing these songs ad nauseum, which is an indictment itself.)

“Because when you’re older, absolutely everything makes sense.”

The pace is frenetic. No lingering for the beauty; Little to no character development; songs and dialogue rushed through. Olaf has matured into a maxim-spouting Yoda doll. Everyone except sisters Elsa and Anna are extras. The cinematography is amazing; incredible textures.

“We’ve always feared Elsa’s powers were too much for this world. Now we must pray they are enough.”

Elsa gets all the fireworks, but Anna is the soul of the movie. With no help and no hope, she keeps doing “the next right thing.”

“You can’t just follow me into fire.” “Then don’t run into fire!”

 

Movie Review: Ford v Ferrari, directed by James Mangold (Five Stars)

Movie Review: Ford v Ferrari, directed by James Mangold

(Five Stars)

“Look out there. Out there is the perfect lap. You see it?” “I think so.” “Most people can’t.”

An amazing movie. I went to be entertained; I was moved to tears. Not about cars or racing—okay, peripherally so—but about people. People who want to excel, and people who want to control. They don’t get along in the movie, nor in real life.

“If you’re going to push a machine to its limit, you have to have sense of where that limit is.”

Amazing performances by Matt Damon and Christian Bale with solid support by half a dozen others, especially Caitriona Balfe. If there’s justice in Hollywood—we know there isn’t—this crew should garner several Academy Award nominations.

“This isn’t the first time Ford Motor’s gone to war. We know how to do more than push paper. Go ahead, Carroll. Go to war.”

While Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca are portrayed sympathetically, the rest of “suits” at Ford corporate come off as a bunch a sleazy power grabbers.

“You can’t make every lap perfect, but I can try.”